Weekly livestock news: August 15, 2022

Proposed federal rule would require organic chickens to have access to outdoors

President Joe Biden’s administration last week proposed a rule requiring U.S. farms to give egg-laying chickens access to the outdoors in order to earn the label “organic.” The proposed rule from USDA would mean companies using the “organic” label no longer have the option of installing open-air porches on henhouses instead of providing access to pasture, Reuters reports. Companies could potentially have up to 15 years to comply. The requirement would better align the organic program with consumer expectations, USDA said. The rule faces a 60-day public comment period before it can be implemented. A similar Obama-era rule, opposed by the egg industry, was withdrawn during the Trump administration. Larry Sadler, vice president of animal welfare for the trade group United Egg Producers, said the group doesn’t have a position yet on the new Biden administration proposal.

Attorneys general support proposed USDA rule meant to ensure fair competition for poultry growers

A bipartisan coalition of 10 attorneys general led by Minnesota AG Keith Ellison has voiced support for a rule proposed by USDA to strengthen enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act. The proposed rule is meant to help poultry growers compete more effectively by providing them critical information when they enter a contract. It would require poultry companies to provide growers with a “Live Poultry Dealer Disclosure Document” containing key information about realistic outcomes before making important contracting decisions, including additional capital investments. The coalition of attorneys general believes the proposed rule would allow smaller poultry-growing operations to compete for fair pricing terms from large processors, according to Meat + Poultry.

Genetic qualities of rare livestock breeds make them uniquely suited to surviving environmental challenges, supporters say

Rare livestock breeds, also known as “heritage breeds,” are seeing a resurgence in popularity in Maine and across the country, The Portland Press Herald reports. The animals, domesticated from a pre-industrial era of farming, have unique genetic qualities that make them worth saving, some farmers say. For example, some breeds are better at resisting heat, some are better at resisting parasites, and some are good at foraging, said Peter Cook, a farmer in Berwick, Maine. According to Conor Guptill, who runs a farm that houses rare goats, pigs and bison, the breeds are more conducive to sustainable agriculture practices. “You can really take your time and cultivate these breeds that may not be up to industrial standards, but from a holistic perspective, they’re just so much more well-rounded,” Guptill said.

AAVMC and FFAR announce 2022 Vet Fellows researching sustainable animal production

The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research have announced the 2022 cohort of FFAR Vet Fellows. The Vet Fellows program began in 2018 through a partnership between FFAR and AAVMC. It allows veterinary students around the world to conduct research to advance global food security, sustainable animal production and environmental sustainability. The fellowship culminates at the AAVMC National Veterinary Scholars Symposium at the end of the summer.

New funding will help company develop herd-specific vaccines to respond to disease outbreaks

Genvax Technologies has secured $6.5 million in seed funding to help its vaccine technology gain USDA and international regulatory approval. The company’s technology allows for rapid development of herd- or flock-specific vaccines meant to match with variant viral strains circulating in animal production operations. “The goal is to develop a vaccine that matches 100% to the specific strain when a disease outbreak occurs,” said Joel Harris, CEO and co-founder of Genvax. For African swine fever, “Genvax’s vaccine could be an important tool for eradication efforts and may alleviate any concerns with trading partners abroad,” Harris said. “In addition, the financial and public support of multiple stakeholders like United Animal Health and others in the food industry is a huge validation of this technology’s promise.”

Potential swine flu investigated in people who became ill following West Virginia event

Several people that handled swine at the Jackson County Fair in West Virginia developed a flu-like illness with respiratory symptoms and fever, state officials announced. At least one human sample was found to have presumptive influenza A, and the state forwarded it to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, swine flu viruses can circulate in pig populations and usually don’t infect humans. Transmission typically occurs when humans have had contact with a pig in a public setting or worked directly with infected swine. Symptoms such as fever, runny nose and sore throat usually show up one to three days after exposure, an official said. WTRF reports.